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The Carnival Experience in Rio de Janeiro

The Carnival Experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

If you’re visiting Rio de Janeiro, you’ll definitely want to explore the culture of Carnival, as it’s deeply rooted in the identity of the city. Of course, the ideal plan would be to arrive during the Carnival festivities in February or March. However, this can be expensive or not feasible for every traveler.

But don’t worry—there’s a fantastic alternative if you want to dive deeper into the Carnival world and discover what happens behind the scenes.

Yes, the Carnival Experience is a program designed to present the universe of Rio’s samba schools, revealing the backstage of the show’s creation and the history of samba and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Amazing, isn’t it?

This story is told by Pimpolhos of Grande Rio, which, in partnership with their “mother school,” the Grande Rio Samba School, opens the doors to the magical world of Carnival, captivating visitors with the characters and stories of this beautiful cultural phenomenon.

Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival is one of the city’s biggest events, attracting visitors from all over Brazil and the world. The city is home to more than 90 samba schools, involving around 100,000 participants. Thousands of professionals work all year to bring this celebration to life—musicians, choreographers, dancers, artisans, samba masters, and producers.

Pimpolhos of Grande Rio is a youth samba school and a non-governmental organization that aims to promote social interaction and education through Carnival culture. The Carnival Experience tour is part of its mission for socioeconomic sustainability, offering an important funding source to continue its cultural and social projects. This is more than a tour—it’s a social business that helps sustain the Carnival’s future.

The Carnival Experience: How is it?

Duration: 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the tour.
Location: City of Samba, Downtown Rio de Janeiro.
Includes:
- Guided tour of the Grande Rio samba school factory.
- Showroom with the history of samba and Carnival parades.
- Costume experience: try on and take photos with Carnival costumes.
- Samba flavor: enjoy a welcome caipirinha.
- Samba class with one of the dancers.